CURRENT INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - 1957/03/24

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Keywords: 2018 Sanitization
• Collection: Current/Central Intelligence Bulletin Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03160433
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2019
• Document Release Date: December 20, 2019
• Publication Date: March 24, 1957

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24 March 1957
Copy No. 131
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OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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raj
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A VA 11.1...1
CONTENTS
1. THE SITUATION IN SYRIA
THE SITUATION INJORDAN
k
Q '3. BULGANIN
TO ADENAUER
(page 4)0
(page 3).
(page 5).
-1)n 4. AUSTRALIA PLANNING TO EQUIP ITS FORCES WITH
t.
AMERICAN MATERIEL
(page 6).
5. PETROLEUM COMPANIES AGREE TO BUILD PIPELINE
THROUGH TURKEY (page 7).
READY TO ACT QUICKLY AT KUWAIT
(page 8).
7. HANOI PROPOSES PATHET LAO DROP CHINESE COMMU-
NIST AID AS CONDITION FOR SETTLEMENT
(page 9).
8. LEGAL DEPORTATIONS REINSTITUTED IN HUNGARY
(page 10).
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SILLKE I
1. THE SITUATION IN SYRIA
Comment on:
While some of the proposed transfers
of Syrian army officers have been car-
ried out, the army chief of staff, as a
result of a compromise among army fac-
tions, is reported to have agreed to re-
tain leftist Lieutenant Colonel Sarraj as
G-2, for the present.
The Egyptian embassy apparently is
supporting the Sarraj-leftist group.
The situation remains unsettled. Left-
ist moves to involve "street" support are suggested by reports
that Damascus youth were issued Czech submachine guns on
20 March in preparation for a "parade" on 24 or 25 March.
Several thousand members of the leftist paramilitary "Futuwa"
organization are believed similarly armed.
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CUrvnr,r,
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I
2. THE SITUATION IN JORDAN
Comment on:
Prime Minister Nabulsi, after apparently
having resisted King Hussain's efforts to
have extreme leftists removed from the
Jordanian cabinet, on 20 March informed
the British ambassador that he would dismiss pro-Soviet min-
iste r4:4 stater for foreign affairs, Abdulla Rimawi, according
to the American embassy in London. Nabulsi also proposed
a program to limit Communist activity without actual denun-
ciation of the USSR, to promote economic development, and to
curb the right-wing nationalist Moslem Brotherhood, which
has recently been cultivated by the king as an ally in the "street."
If Hussain should reject the above program, Nabulsi said he in-
tended to resign.
Although Nabulsi's move seems to be a con-
cession to Hussain, it may actually be a scheme to advance
long-run leftist interests by sacrificing Rimawi and weakening
the king's support from the militant right.
The British appear to believe that for the
time being Nabulsi is less dangerous in office than out. In any
case, the Foreign Office is reported to be increasingly pessi-
mistic over the prospects for Jordan's survival as a national
entity.
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�At tf ITV ILMIN 11AL A,
3. BULGANIN NOTE TO ADENAUER
Comment on:
Premier Bul-
ganin has tried to create the impres-
sion that Adenauer has gone fur-
ther toward accepting Soviet terms for a Soviet-West Ger-
man agreement than is the case Bulganin, proposing trade
talks in April in either Moscow or Bonn, tried to commit
Adenauer to a formal trade agreement which the chancellor
has been avoiding. Bulganin said Adenauer had agreed
to talks on "regulation and expansion
of trade relations," although Adenauer only referred to talks
on trade "development." Soviet officials have been hinting
that First Deputy Premier Mikoyan would like to visit West
Germany, and that he would probably initiate the trade talks.
Bulganin also distorted Adenauer's endorse-
ment of discussions on scientific-technical co-operation by
also including cultural co-operation and tried to commit him
to negotiations on the setting up of consulates, which Bonn has
opposed.
Bulganin only briefly repeated the Soviet
thesis that East-West German agreement is prerequisite to
reunification, and made no reference to Adenauer's plea for re-
patriation of German civilians in the USSR. Bulganin'
criticized Foreign Minister Brentano by name, probably because
of Brentano's National Press Club speech in early March in
which he called Soviet control of East Germany "a constant and
incessant aggression...against the German people."
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...cf." 41%7777Th 1,1110717 4
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T_ALri 'V I' _EIJI:ill' 12-LL
4. AUSTRALIA PLANNING TO EQUIP ITS FORCES WITH
AMERICAN MATERIEL
Comment on:
Australian officials have confirmed to
the American embassy in Canberra that
their revised defense plans include re-
equipment of the army and air force with
American materiel. The plans have been approved in prin-
ciple by the Australian cabinet and were privately disclosed
to parliamentary members of the government parties on 20
March.
Australian defense policy has been the
subject of a basic review for several months, taking into ac-
count modern weapons developments and the country's new
commitments in Southeast Asia. Experience in World War II,
together with the recently proposed retrenchment in the de-
fense burden of the United Kingdom, have pointed up the need
for greater reliance on American sources of supply.
Australian plans call for purchase of Amer-
ican fighter and transport planes, as well as field weapons, and
domestic manufacture of some component parts. In addition, the
number of conscripts and the size of the Citizens Military Force--
equivalent to a national guard--will be cut in the interest of de-
veloping a more highly mobile striking force.
The embassy regards the new plans as a
further step by Australia to align its defense policy more closely
with that of the United States. It anticipates acceptance by the
Australian parliament and public and little serious resistance
on the part of the opposition :Labor Party.
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(AM lifniv 11AL
5. PETROLEUM COMPANIES AGREE TO BUILD
PIPELINE THROUGH TURKEY
Reference:
British, French, Dutch and American
petroleum companies have tentatively
agreed to establish an international con-
sortium for the purpose of building a
major pipeline system from the Persian Gulf to the east-
ern Mediterranean via Turkey, according to the US em-
bassy in London.
In recent exploratory talks the oil men
agreed that the proposed pipeline should consist of two "Ape-
lines, one 34 and one 26 inches, ;having a combined capacity
of 1,200,000 barrels a day, the first line to be completed by
1960; that it should ultimately transport petroleum from Iraq,
Kuwait, Iran and Saudi Arabia; and that it should be protected
by treaty. They further agreed to establish committees on
engineering, organization, finance and treaty arrangements.
In addition to providing an alternative to
the Suez Canal as a means of transit for the Middle East petro-
leum industry, such an arrangement would help Turkey attain
some degree of economic stability.
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SECRET
6. BRITAIN READY TO ACT QUICKLY AT KUWAIT
In the discussion of the Middle East at
Bermuda, British Foreign Secretary
Lloyd emphasized the great importance
of Kuwait as a source of oil for the West
and indicated that Britain might have to
take action at once if it should be con-
fronted with a dangerous situation there.
The American consulate in Kuwait has
re orte that the British security adviser employed by the
Kuwaiti government has said he intends to resign in April
because the apathy and hostility of Kuwaiti officials have
made it impossible for him to accomplish anything. In par-
ticular, he indicated that he has been obstructed by the pres-
ident of the Public Security Department in his efforts to con-
tinue arrests of Iraqi Communists who remain at large due to
the inefficiency, if not complicity, of the department's counter-
intelligence chief. The British political agent at Kuwait doubts
that the Kuwaitis would accept another British security offi-
cer, according to the consulate.
Comment Lloyd's statement suggests that London
believes the chances are great that it may
have to intervene militarily to preserve its vital oil interests
in Kuwait. More than a dozen British advisers have been
forced to resign their posts in the Kuwaiti government in the
past three months.
Communist and other clandestine activity
in Kuwait appears to be continuing. The arrival of three Jor-
danian Communist leaders and a group equipped with arms
and explosives was reported in January.
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SECRET
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7. HANOI PROPOSES PATHET LAO DROP CHINESE
COMMUNIST AID AS CONDITION FOR SETTLEMENT
the
Pathet Lao delegation in Vientiane stated
that Pathet chief Souphannouvong could
tell premier Souvanna Phouma that if Laos
gave up its demand for the dissolution of
the Pattiet Lao, the Pathets "could defer the question of seek-
ing aid from China."
Comment Souphannouvong told
Souvanna Phouma that he would propose
to his headquarters in Sam Neua that demands for Laotian ac-
ceptance of Chinese Communist aid be waived. The Viet Minh,
who raised the issue of Chinese aid as a counterproposal to
Laotian demands for the dissolution of the Pathet Lao move-
ment, apparently hope to avoid a showdown on both issues,
which might lead to a rupture in negotiations.
With negotiations now deadlocked, the
Viet Minh apparently intend to build popular support as a means
to bring pressure on the crown prince and cabinet for settlement.
Viet Minh instructed Viet Minh cadres to
remain in Laos in order to "convince the populace and upper
classes" of the need for successful conclusion of the negotiations.
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TOP -T
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tduri vi'1.151.:ei Ai I. Ad 1.1.4
a. LEGAL DEPORTATIONS REINSTITUTED IN HUNGARY
The American legation in Budapest be-
lieves a decree of 19 March reinstituting
legal deportations in Hungary will remind
the Hungarian public of the worst days of
the Rakosi terror, when tens of thousands
were deported. The decree covers all persons considered
dangerous to the state or detrimental to tile state's interests
or the economy. The police may, on 15,Days' notice, ban
such persons from "defined areas" and may place them under
police surveillance in permanent or temporary domicile for a
maximum of two years. The only provision for legal protec-
tion against deportation, which is completely under the control
of national police headquarters, is an appeal to this same office.
The decree gives no indication of the nature of the evidence
necessary or the procedure of the hearings, if any.
The decree is intended to provide al conven-)
ient disposal for regime enemies against whom formal charges
are difficult to find. The legation feels that the decree could
also provide a convenient means of punishing refugees should
they return.
Comment Implementation of the decree will further
increase the hostility of the population to
the Kadar regime but may contribute to the breakup of remain-
ing centers of dissidence.
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